The Slovak capital is currently experiencing a street food boom, offering a large variety of take-aways. Tasting dishes of Slovak or foreign cuisine on offer could be a unique experience paired with attending the upcoming pre-Christmas programs.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia celebrates the 88th anniversary of the unification of the Kingdom of by the late King Abdul-Aziz Al Saud in 1932. The Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia presents a this special edition on this national occasion.

The General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Nguyen Phu Trong is on an official visit to Hungary at the invitation of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. The two leaders met Monday afternoon in the building of Hungarian Parliament.

Prince Andrew, the second of Queen Elizabeth II, is on a three-day official trip to Hungary. The Duke of York was welcomed by Ambassador Lindsay and later this afternoon met with János Áder, President of Hungary at Sándor Palace.

The German company ZF continues to manufacture its eight-speed automatic transmission for leading automotive companies in Eger, E Hungary. The choice of the venue was supported by the professional expertise of the staff and the excellent infrastructure.

Utility services provider E.ON Hungária Co. Ltd. has announced that it has connected to the grid its own solar plants in Hungary: the seven 500-kW units built in Szigetvár and the 500 kW solar park constructed in Mohács, both in the southern part of the country.

The first group-linked public lighting poles have been introduced in Budapest. In the pilot project, five public lighting poles with different intelligent functions were installed and connected in a network in the capital's 9th district.

As part of an investment of more than EUR 17 million, Austria’s ADA Group, one of the leading manufacturers of upholstered furniture, beds and mattresses in Europe, has opened a manufacturing hall in Körmend, Western Hungary.

A new, 8.1-kilometer-long, stretch of the M4 motorway - between the town of Cegléd and the village of Ceglédbercel, both southeast of Budapest - was inaugurated this Thursday. Once complete, M4 will alleviate the now heavy traffic on main road No. 4.

The 26th edition of one of Europe's biggest cultural – mainly music – festivals, the Sziget Festival in the Hungarian capital ended this Tuesday, having had record number of 565.000 visitors from all over the world attending the seven-day event.

Hungary will ban the use of products from Kaspersky Lab, a Russian company accused of using its software to spy on U.S. government agencies, on all government PCs. The measure is in line with a decree approved earlier by European Parliament.

In June 2018, the volume of industrial output grew by 4.2% year-on-year, the Hungarian Central statistical Office (KSH) reports. Based on working-day adjusted data, the production rose by 3.1%. On the previous month, industrial output was down by 1.2%.

A community space ‘Empathy Cafe & Bistro’ has been opened in the heart of Budapestat the headquarters of the Hungarian Red Cross in Arany János Street. Those visiting the place support the organization's charitable work through their consumption.

In the framework of the Operation Atlantic Resolve, the assigned staff of the Hungarian Defense Forces undertake joint training in Bakony. The participating American and Hungarian troops were visited by U.S. Ambassador David B. Cornstein.

In the first half of 2018, 6,517 new dwellings were built in Hungary, 30% more than a year earlier. Based on issued dwelling construction permits and simple declarations, the number of homes to be built fell by 8.9% to 18,066 compared to the first half of 2017.

In its WittyLeaks series, Diplomac&Trade regularly publishes the personal accounts of diplomatic mission leaders accredited to Budapest. This time, the Canadian Ambassador shares her experiences of being a diplomat with a small child.

Qatar Airways will increase its service to Budapest by adding four additional flights to Hungary’s largest city and capital, commencing August 4. The additional flights will take the airline’s service of 14 flights per week to Hungary to 18.

BMW Group continues to expand its manufacturing network in Europe, with the aim of establishing a new plant in Hungary, near Debrecen. The value of the new investment will exceed EUR 1 billion, and the capacity will be up to 150,000 vehicles per year.

Hungaroring, the site of the Formula One Hungarian Grand Prix car race is to be completely transformed after next year's event. According to the CEO of Hungaroring, it will be difficult to destroy and rebuild the place within ten months.

Qatar Airways has been named ‘World’s Best Business Class’ for third consecutive year by the 2018 Skytrax World Airline Awards. The airline also won the Best Airline audience award in 2018, based on the readers' reviews of Business Traveler Hungary.

Mrs Pascale Andreani, Ambassador-designate of France to Hungary, has just taken up office in Budapest, according to a press release by the French Embassy in Budapest. Her appointment was approved by the Hungarian authorities on May 18.

The German multinational engineering and electronics company Bosch expands its Budapest Engineering Center with an EUR 120 million investment. In the new building complex , Hungarian engineers will develop Bosch's self-driving systems.

Taiwan-based Giant Group is going to establish its second European manufacturing and logistics unit in Gyöngyös, east of Budapest. Worth almost EUR 48 million, the investment, which is to be realized in three phases, shall occupy 228,000 square meters.

The Business Council for Sustainable Development in Hungary has announced the ‘For a Sustainable Future’ prize in 2018, with the purpose of recognizing the achievements of leaders and companies on advancing Sustainable Development Goals.

The European Space Agency (ESA) in cooperation with the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA) has opened a business incubation center in Budapest. It is to fund startups using space technology solutions in products and services developed for everyday life.

One day before the scheduled deadline, Runway 1 of Liszt Ferenc International Airport was re-opened for traffic. The handover of the runway was made urgent by the need to meet the demand of increased summer traffic more safely and more comfortably.

The Hungarian currency, the forint began Wednesday trading at 326 units to one euro. Then, a morning waning wave had flown it to 327.3, before another fall early evening resulted in the common European currency being worth HUF 328 – an all-time low.

In the framework of a development project of EUR 6.3 million, a brand new, modern building complex of over 2,000 square meters is to be built in Pécs, for Soft Flow Hungary, owned to the Danish company of FOSS, will create more than 90 new jobs.

The new ambassador of the United States of America presented his letter of credentials to Hungarian President János Áder in the Sándor Palace in Budapest this Monday. The previous US ambassador, Colleen Bell left her post in January 2017.

Sopron Brewery has announced a contest in which it is seeking the best home brewer and the most sophisticated beer experts. The company would like to find the Hungary's best porter and those judges who represent consumers in the jury.

SRF Limited, a chemical based multi-business Indian conglomerate, SRF is going to establish in Jászfényszaru, SE of Budapest, a benchmark plant which is going to be the most advanced site of the corporation, so far.

The Infineon Technologies Group’s new main building in Cegléd, SE of Budapest, has been inaugurated. The Hungarian government contributed to the investment with HUF 1.2 billion (EUR 3.7 million) in nonreturnable funding.

The trade development and investment promotion agency PRO ECUADOR has opened a representative office in Budapest with the aim of promoting Ecuadorian exportable supply and investment climate on the Hungarian other Central Europe markets.

Qatar Airways has announced that it will increase frequency to Budapest by adding four additional flights, commencing on August 2. This will take the airline’s 14 weekly service to Hungary to 18, to satisfy demand by tourists transit travellers flying via Doha to Asia.

The Ganga-Danube Indian Cultural Festival, combined with the International Day of Yoga, takes place this year in Hungary on June 23-24. Diplomacy&Trade has talked to Indian Ambassador Rahul Chhabra as well as a yoga teacher from India, Ankita Sood.

Trombone player Márk Beke was voted by the viewers of the Hungarian public service channels Duna Television and M5 as the absolute winner in the final of the fourth series of the classical music talent show 'Virtuosos'.

Festive Book Week, the biggest celebration of contemporary Hungarian literature is being held for the 89th time this year (June 7-11). It was opened at Vörösmarty Square in downtown Budapest but satellite events are organized throughout the country.

Mercedes-Benz Cars is starting construction of its first 'Full-Flex Plant' in Kecskemét, about 90 kilometers in the south of Budapest. Overall, the company is investing one billion euros in the new car plant and creating over 2,500 jobs.

At the General Assembly of 2018 of the German-Hungarian Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DUIHK), four new members were elected to their board of directors. Also, 20 companies were awarded the 'Reliable Employer' rating for the third time.

The relations between Russia and Hungary have been traditionally based on the principle of pragmatism and respect for each other’s interests, according to the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Hungary, Vladimir Sergeev.

It is the fourth time that the Italian Festival takes place – until June 16 – organized by ICE – Italian Trade Agency with the patronage of the Italian Embassy and in collaboration with the Italian Cultural Institute and the Italian Chamber of Commerce for Hungary.

A holistic solution covering the whole production process has won the Hungarian final of the HEINEKEN's ‘Drop the C' competition for innovation aimed at growing its share of renewable thermal energy and electricity in production.

The Goodman-Auchan combined building, constructed by GSE Hungária Ltd. in Üllő, just south of Budapest, has reached its highest point. The topping out ceremony was attended by the deputy foreign minister and the French ambassador.

As it has been a tradition since 2005, the Diplomats Polo Cup in Hungary is held at the last week-end of May. The venue of the three-day BMW Diplomats Polo Cup is the Hungarian Polo Club in Tabajd in the Váli valley, southwest of Budapest.

From the Eastern European region, the number of tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka increased in 2017, and the Sri Lankan Tourism Promotion Office (SLTPB) chose Hungary as a source market in 2018 to offer special programs for tourists from this country.

This is already the secornd year that the 'TechGirls' series of events is organized by the German-Hungarian Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DUIHK). The aim of the series is to raise interest in technical and natural science studies among girls.

The Startup Campus V4 Global Tour journied across the United States East Coast this May May with five Hungarian health care startups having had the opportunity to validate themselves in the US market and to develop further cooperative relationships.

Hungarian celebrities will also be involved in the new primary school diabetes education program. The aim of the initiative is to spread comprehensive knowledge of this condition and that children with diabetes are accepted in schools.

In commemoration of the victims of the Holocaust, thousands of people walked across the river Danube and along the embankment of the river in the traditional 'March of the Living'. Speakers of the event talked about the importance of rememberance.

On the 14th anniversary of Hungary's accession to the European Union, a day-long festival was held in Budapest this Sunday. It was for the fifth time that a running race also took place - this time, the distance was 14 kilometers.

Mercedes-Benz Manufacturing Hungary Ltd. has had another successful year: its production last year was 4.1% higher than in 2016, and more than 190,000 Mercedes-Benz compact cars were manufactured in its Kecskemét factory.

US television and broadband company Liberty Global entered into a definitive agreement to sell its operations in Romania, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Germany to Vodafone Group, the world's second-largest mobile carrier, for EUR 18.4 billion.

The growth in passenger traffic broke all previous records at Budapest Airport during the first quarter of 2018. The increase of 16.9% is nearly triple the 6.2% average growth rate of EU airports, a statement by the airport management company says.

The Budapest Stock Exchange (BSE) entered into a cooperation agreement with one of the world's largest stock exchanges, the Shanghai Stock Exchange to work jointly on the development of new products that can be accessed by Hungarian and Chinese investors.

A month after the April 8 general elections, the new Hungarian parliament held its inaugural session this Tuesday. The ruling party Fidesz and its satellite partner KDNP have a two thirds majority in the 199-seat assembly.

In May, America was the protagonist at Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport: early in the month, three new, direct flights from Budapest to the United States were inaugurated by Budapest Airport. Accordingly, SkyCourt also has an authentic American atmosphere.

Education is held by the General Assembly of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences among the most important tasks of the Hungarian state - the Academy's decision-making body declared in its resolution with a majority of over 80%.

American Airlines has launched a direct service between Budapest's Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD) and Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) in the United States this Monday. Flights are operated using Boeing 767-300 aircraft.

Parallels sculpture/object - an exhibition by Dutch fine artist André van Lier opened this Thursday evening in the Saxon Art Gallery in the Hungarian capital. The exhibition can be viewed every Thursday and Friday afternoon until July 6.

Rapid development of solutions for improving the legal industry world-wide is the goal of the Global Legal Hackathon competition where the winner this year in the private sector category was Revealu, an application from Hungary.

In its WittyLeaks series, Diplomac&Trade regularly publishes the personal accounts of siplomatic mission leaders accredited to Budapest. This time, David J. Kostelancik, the Chargé d'Affaires of the American Embassy shares his thoughts about music.

Industrial producer prices as a whole were 3.5% higher in March 2018 than in the same period of the previous year, the Hungarian Central Statistical Office reported this Thursday. Industrial domestic output prices rose by 3.3%.

The Polish national airline, LOT, launched its first direct flight between the Hungarian capital and the southern Polish city of Kraków this Wednesday. The airline's Bombardier Dash 8 planes fly this route six times a week with a flight time of one hour.

This year, the Budapest Beer Week (BPBW) 2018 International Beer Festival will be held for the first time in the Hungarian capital from May 20 to 27 with 160 different beers of more than 40 international craft breweries from 16 countries.

Budapest-based Central European University (CEU) has announced that University Professor Gábor Klaniczay, founding faculty of the Department of Medieval Studies, has been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

As of October 28 this year, the start of the winter schedule, Air France's new generation airline, JOON (founded in 2017), flies passengers from Budapest's Liszt Ferenc International Airport to the Charles DeGaulle Airport of the French capital.

This is the fifth year Randstad Hungary rewarded the most attractive employers in Hungary. Mercedes Benz landed on the top of the list and previous consecutive victories earned Audi Hungária a place in the 'Randstad Employer Brand Hall of Fame'.

The Startup Campus V4 Global Tour reached its second destination, the German capital, this April as participating startups attended and exhibited at Startup Camp Berlin 2018 and introduced themselves to the representatives of the German economy.

The painting entitled Architektur I or Konstruktion auf blauem Grund (Construction on a Blue Ground) by 20th century Hungarian constructivist László Moholy-Nagy has been granted to the Hungarian National Gallery in Budapest.

Budapest Airport and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) have concluded a partnership agreement. As a result, some of the international trainings organized by IATA can be held in the Hungarian capital, at Budapest Airport.

Spar Hungary is investing HUF 23 billion this year in development and has already spent more than HUF 2.1 billion this year in its modernization program, the company told the Hungarian news agency MTI this Thursday.

The French retail chain Auchan expands its services in Hungary, supporting multi-channel merchandise with online ordering stores. That was announced at Thursday's inauguration of a new store in Budapest by Auchan Hungary CEO Dominique Ducoux.

April 11 is the Day of Poetry in Hungary in commemoration of the great 20th century poet Attila József who was born on this day in 1905. This year, a pocket book ATM was put in operation in the capital to encourage people to read more literature.

In February 2018, the number of nights spent by international tourists increased by 7.4% and that of nights spent by domestic tourists by 11% compared to a year earlier. Total gross revenues grew by 12% at current prices in accommodation establishments.

The March issue of Diplomacy&Trade presented a special compilation of ties between the Republic of Korea and Hungary. In the leading article, Korean ambassador Kyoo-sik Choe talked about the various ascpects of relations and the 'Olympics of Peace'.

According to unofficial results (based on 98,96% tally of the votes), the ruling party Fidesz and its satellite partner KDNP have won two thirds of the 199 seats in Hungarian parliament at the general elections held this Sunday.

Hungarian movie director Ildikó Enyedi, whose recent film, 'On Body and Soul' was shortlisted for the Academy Award in the best foreign language film category, is to receive a lifetime award at the 'Festival del cinema europeo' in Lecce Italy this Tuesday.

Hungarians go to the polls this Sunday, to elect members of the national assembly. Eligible voters will elect 199 members of the national assembly in one round: 106 of them from single-member constituencies and 93 from national lists of political parties.

A memorial to the former Polish president Lech Kaczyński and the other victims of the Smolensk (Russia) tragedy in 2010 was unveiled in Budapest this Friday in the presence of Jaroslaw Kaczyński, the brother of Lech Kaczynski.

The Hungarian company Viastein is developing its Biharkeresztes plant in three phases, creating 180 new jobs, through a project of about EUR 29 million. The foundation stone was laid and the plant built in the first phase was delivered this Thursday.

The Hungarian family business Csaba Metál Co. Ltd. that has grown into a reputed and recognized supplier at European level for the automotive industry further develops its facilities with a EUR 18.5 million capacity expanding investment generating 165 new jobs.

A new molecular biology laboratory of the Hungarian pharmaceutical company Richter Gedeon was inaugurated in Debrecen, E Hungary. The new lab serves the company's objectives of appearing on new markets internationally.

GE Hungary keeps on seeking Hungarian companies which could successfully join its supplier's chain. For this purpose, more than 70 SMEs presented themselves to GE representatives at the GE Supplier's Forum in Budapest.

Finnair, the flag carrier and largest airline of Finland, has announced at a joint press conference with Budapest Airport that it will have three daily flights between the Hungarian and Finnish capitals in the summer period this year.

Arconic Wheel and Transportation Products, producer of Alcoa Wheels, that manufactures a range of fully forged aluminum wheels, announced another expansion in Hungary to double the capacities of its Székesfehérvár plant.

Forbes magazine has published its latest World’s Billionaires list that contains the world’s 2,208 wealthiest people. Among them is Hungarian banker Sándor Csányi who is back on the list - on place 1,999 - after 2016.

Construction works have been launched for South Korea’s third largest company SK Innovation to build a plant manufacturing batteries for use in electric cars in the industrial park in Komárom with an investment worth HUF 97.5 billion.

While environmental awareness in the world and especially in Europe is increasingly popular, it may be surprising that Hungary has only one climate-neutral residence today, the Irota EcoLodge located in a village in northeastern Hungary.

In the WittyLeaks series, Diplomac&Trade regularly publishes the personal accounts of ambassadors accredited to Budapest. this time, the departing Kazakh ambassador shares his 'sacred memories of a friendly Hungary'.

A significant player in Hungarian food industry, the Western Hungarian company of Zalaco expands with greenfield investment in Zalaegerszeg. Having plants in Ajka and Sopron, too, this company is an important representative of the domestic bakery sector.

Hungary’s first airport hotel with direct terminal connection was officially opened this Wednesday. The ibis Styles Budapest Airport Hotel, built by the Hungarian company WING Co. Ltd. for HUF 3.2 billion has 145 rooms 300 guests altogether.

The town of Felsőzsolca in northeastern Hungary has accepted the proposal of state-owned Hungarian Electricity Works (MVM), which envisages the construction of the largest solar power plant in the country, with installed capacity of 20 MW.

Canadian-owned Linamar Hungary Cls. will be creating two hundred new jobs in provincial Hungary at three locations with an investment of HUF 8.64 billion (EUR 27.5 million), 119 in Orosháza, 71 in Békéscsaba and ten in Gyöngyös.

A new factory has neen opened by the automotive component and raw material supplier thyssenkrupp Component Technology in Jászfényszaru, E Hungary. It produces overhead camshafts and electro-mechanical power steering.

Maintaining an active political dialog, strengthening economic cooperation and promoting cultural ties, especially people-to-people contacts; these are the goals of the Ambassador of Latvia to Hungary, Vilmārs Heniņą.

This February, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop paid a short visit to Budapest, where she met her Hungarian counterpart as well as representatives from the business community. Here is what she told Diplomacy&Trade about her visit.

Upgraded 1,000-forint banknote denominations can appear in cash payments in Hungary from March 1, 2018. In addition to their renewed appearance, the banknotes have been brought up-to-date with regards their security features.

In Japan, it is often not easy to get around as a simple tourist, especially if you are trying to get from point A to point B without a guide. The travel agency JTB Japan has helped create a pocket-aid that helps travelers create their own travel plans.

The World Business Angel Forum in Istanbul marked the launch of the Startup Campus V4 Global Tour. At the conference, five Hungarian and two Polish innovative startups introduced their ideas to key sponsors and partners like Türk Telekom and Celebi.

Practice shows that female executives make the point of view of organizations more diversified as they can bring their own aspects and life experiences to discussions, the Australian Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop pointed out at a forum in Budapest.

The Hungarian quartet of Csaba Burján, Viktor Knoch, Liu Shaoang and Sándor Liu Shaolin won the men's 5,000-meter short-track event at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, taking the first ever gold medal for the country in the history of the Winter Games.

REHAU, the world's market leader automotive polymer supplier is building a new manufacturing plant in Hungary. Provider of polymer-based solutions, REHAU will manufacture lacquered external components in the new plant for the automotive industry.

It was for the 24th time that this week-end, the National Association of Managers held its now traditional Manager Ball and Award Gala, in the ballroom of Corinthia Hotel Budapest. Awards were given in three categories to the most talented.

Hungarian conductor Ádám Fischer has been named – along with former Beatle Paul McCartney – as the recipient of Israel’s prestigious Wolf Prize in the music category for being “an inspirational conductor and eloquent defender of human rights,”

The production and sharing of quantum bits and the creation a quantum information network will be the goal for the next four years by the HunQuTech consortium of researchers, research institutes and industrial companies.

The HB Reavis real estate development group's Agora Park and Showroom was named ‘Best Community Place of the Year 2017’ among 35 entries while the Agora Budapest project was voted as ‘Best Planned Commercial Real Estate Project of the Year 2017’.

Hungarian and American software engineers of GE Healthcare developed the analytic management system of the Olympic Winter Games.It allows doctors and healthcare professionals get real-time data on the health status, injuries and possible illness of athletes.

Concerts, gastronomic and children's programs, light painting and fireworks - a whole-day of family programs were held on Sunday at the Várkert Bazaar and its neighborhood on the occasion of the anniversary of the establishment of the Visegrád Four.

Hungary is represented at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang, South Korea with 19 competitors. The Hungarian flag at the opening ceremony was carried by World University Speed Skating Champion Konrád Nagy.

Ádám Pohner, assistant chef at the Kistücsök Restaurant, has won the Hungarian final of the Bocuse d'Or cooking contest at the Sirha international HoReCa and Retail show and will represent Hungary in the European final in Turin, Italy.

The Turkish company Metyx, engaged in the manufacture of glass and carbon fiber raw materials – and composite products made of them –, will double the number of its employees, creating high added value jobs, as well in the Somogy County town.

The Hungarian Wine Academy has awarded the Wine Producer of the Year for the 27th time. This time, the recognition went to an internationally known winemaker, Mátyás Szőke whose winery is in the Mátra hill region, east of Budapest.

FOSS quadruplicates their number of employees in Hungary by adding 100 new, high value-added R&D jobs to the existing 30 positions. Moreover, Soft Flow, the subsidiary of the Danish biotechnology company is building a complex, Scandinavian-style office.

Enterprise Hungary will launch the 'Startup Campus V4 Global Tour' event in February 2018, whereby innovative companies in the V4 countries will be able to introduce themselves to investors and large business partners.

From May this year, LOT Polish Airlines is going to operate regular flights between Budapest and the southern Polish city of Kraków six times a week. Prior to that, from April 28, the airline will operate on that route five flights per week.

Two second-hand Airbus A319 aircraft acquired by the Hungarian Defence Forces have arrived at the mil,itary airport in Kecskemét. The 8-9-year-old planes were bought from the bankrupt German low-cost carrier Air Berlin and re-painted in Prague.

Compared to its historical peak at the end of 2017, GKI’s economic sentiment index advanced in January within the statistical margin of error as a result of a minimal improvement in business expectations and a slight deterioration of consumer expectations.

Budapest Airport opened a new VIP service which offers exclusivity, relaxation, comfort and personal touch – everything for those passengers with premier travel standards in mind and those wanting a little more style and luxury.

Qatar Airways has announced that in February it will be the first airline to ever fly the Boeing 787 Dreamliner to Budapest. For two days, February 25 and 28, it will upgrade its service to a Boeing 787 Dreamliner due to increased passenger demand.

Continental Automotive Kft., a subsidiary of Germany’s Continental AG, will open an artificial intelligence competence center in Budapest in May, with the Hungarian government providing a quarter of the HUF 5.5 billion (EUR 17.7 mn) investment cost.

A new law which took effect in Hungary on January 1, 2018 is ending the state monopoly on attested (or certified) translations, slator.com reports. Now, translations of documents submitted to courts can be provided by any translation agency.

“The key to switching into a higher gear in the economy lies in the acceleration of digital transformation and the improvement of competitiveness,” Minister for National Economy Mihály Varga said at the Regional Digital Summit in Budapest.

As a result of a comprehensive EUR 20 million development project, ContiTech Magyarország, belonging to the Continental Group, has expanded production in Nyíregyháza, NE Hungary, the Hungarian Investment Promotion Agency reports.

Bulgarian Ambassador Ulyana Bogdanska hosted the official opening ceremony in Hungary of the First Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2018 at the St. Stephen's Basilica in Budapest.

The German-owned B. Braun Medical, Ltd. has begun capacity expansion in Gyöngyös, NE Hungary. 407 new jobs will be created by the EUR 100 million investment in collaboration with the Hungarian Investment Promotion Agency (HIPA).

Thousands of elementary, secondary school and university students, parenst and other sympathizers protested outside Hungary's parliament on Friday to demand major education reforms, including more critical thinking and creativity.

The Budapest-based organisation European Roma Rights Center (ERRC) has received the Raoul Wallenberg Prize of the Council of Europe for successfully challenging discrimination, anti-Romani racism and rights abuses of Roma people.

The ADA Group is expanding its furniture manufacturing capacities in Western Hungary under a project that also includes technological developments and the construction of hall buildings in order to meet meet continuously increasing demand.

In November 2017, the number of nights spent by international tourists increased by 8.7% and that of nights spent by domestic tourists by 5.6% compared to the level a year earlier. Total gross revenues grew by 16% at current prices.

Erste’s real estate fund 'Erste Ingatlan Alap' has acquired the Market Central Ferihegy retail park together with the adjacent Quadrum office complex from AIG/Lincoln, eurobuildcee.com reports. This is the largest retail park in the country.

Hungarian President János Áder held his traditional new year reception in the Palace of Arts for diplomats accredited in Budapest. In his speech, he assured diplomats that whatever the results of this years elections, Hungary will stay in the European Union.

Traffic at Budapest’s Liszt Ferenc International Airport in 2017 grew at an unprecedented pace: 13.1 million passengers used the airport last year, and the volume of air cargo also broke the record with more than 127.000 tons in total.

“Hungary provides great opportunities for Australian companies. It is geographically well placed to tap into the broader continental European opportunities," the Senior Trade Commissioner for Central Europe, Anthony Weymouth tells Diplomacy&Trade.

Transparency International Hungary has rewarded the exploration of corruption in the municipality of Ferencváros with the Göbölyös Soma Prize. The author of the winning entry, a series of articles was Dániel Ács, a journalist at the news portal 444.hu.

Hungarian President János Áder has announced that the parliamentary elections in Hungary will be held on Sunday, April 8. Those eligible to vote will elect 199 members of the national assembly, 106 of them from individual constituencies.

Japan's GS Yuasa Corporation, which is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, has announced to establish a manufacturing subsidiary company, GS Yuasa Hungary Ltd. in Hungary and to construct a new plant for lithium-ion batteries.

Hungary’s first airport hotel with direct terminal connection opened in early January. The ibis Styles Budapest Airport Hotel, built by the Hungarian company WING Co. Ltd. for HUF 3.2 billion has 145 rooms and is able to accommodate 300 guests.

The starter motor and generator division of the Bosch Group has completed its transition to an independent company: it will operate in Hungary under the name of Starters E-Components Generators Automotive Hungary, effective immediately.

Wizz Air, the largest low-cost airline in Central and Eastern Europe, and one of Europe’s fastest growing airlines, has announced that it would add Austria as the 44th country in its network, by establishing base operations at Vienna Airport.

Qatar Airways will introduce the Airbus A330 on the Budapest-Doha route in summer 2018. The addition of this aircraft will increase seat capacity by more than 53% over the current A320 aircraft that currently operates both of the double daily frequencies.

In December 2017, 9,787 real estate transactions took place in Hungary, which is a decrease compared to November, but still higher than in the last month of the previous year, according to Duna House's latest transaction estimate.

For the first time in the history of the Hungarian-Croatian touristic relations, the number of guest nights by Hungarians in Croatia exceeded three million in 2017, the Croatian Tourist Board informed the Hungarian news agency MTI on Friday.

Although Hungary and Australia have very different histories and are far from each other geographically, we have our hearts in the right place and have a lot to share, according to the Ambassador of Australia to Hungary, Dr. Brendon Hammer.

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar paid a short working visit to Budapest this Thursday afternoon. The parties discussed the state of the EU, fiscal, migration and agricultural policy issues and Brexit, sharing similar views on important EU issues.

AImotive, a Hungarian startup developing self-driving car technology that relies on cameras to detect cars, obstacles, and signs, has received funding to be used to increase global scale and accelerate autonomous driving software via simulation technology.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, who took office on December 11, 2017, paid his first official visit abroad to Hungary where he held talks with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and was also received by President János Áder.

The Hungarian stock exchange closed December trading with HUF 194 billion turnover and the daily average turnover was HUF 10.2 billion. Compared to December 2016, both numbers exceed the current value (178 and 8.5 billion forints).

Whatever we believe in, whatever goals are driving our lives, we still wish success and happiness to one another again and again. Keep the charm of this moment all year long, Hungarian President János Áder said in his New Year speech.

Wizz Air Holdings Plc, the largest low-cost airline in Central and Eastern Europe, finalizes a deal with Airbus S.A.S. relating to the purchase of 146 Airbus A320neo family aircraft (72 A320neo and 74 A321neo types) to more than double its fleet.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Budapest Stock Exchange issued a resolution (No. 480/2017) on Thursday, December 28 to suspend the trading right in Debt Securities section of Merrill Lynch International for lack of traders.

The Hungarian oil group MOL and its partners have begun oil production in the framework of the Catcher project, located in the UK Central North Sea. First oil from the project where MOL'S share is 20%, was achieved on December 23, 2017.

In Hungary, the rate of inflation will reach 3% percent, consistent with price stability. That inflation target in the prognosis of the National Bank of Hungary's inflation report is expected to be achieved in a sustainable manner by the middle of 2019.

Training for Air Force pilots and air traffic controllers will be relaunched in Hungary after 20 years in 2018, for 15-20 students at the National University of Public Service and the air base at Szolnok in central Hungary, the chief of the base told public news channel M1.

The European Commission has found that Hungarian plans to grant around EUR 3.8 million in investment aid to modernise the infrastructure of Debrecen International Airport (E Hungary) are in line with EU state aid rules.

Valeo Auto-Electric Magyarország continues to expand its manufacturing and R&D complex in Veszprém with a greenfield project. More than 200 new jobs will be created in connection with the EUR 60 million worth of development.

Argentine ambassador Maximiliano Gregorio-Cernadas, welcomed the staff of the Capital Circus of Budapest in his residence at the 250th anniversary of the modern circus. The guests of the event were entertained by Argentinian and Hungarian artists.

The United States is to spend over USD 55 million “to increase fuel storage capacity, construct a parallel taxiway and upgrade the airfield" at the Kecskemét Air Base in east central Hungary as part of the initiative to deter Russian aggression.

The United Networks of International Corporate Event Organizers, an international association that brings together senior decision-makers in charge of corporate events will have its European Congress in the Hungarian capital on June 28-29, 2018.

On the occasion of Finland celebrating the 100th anniversary of its independence, the country's ambassador, Petri Tuomi-Nikula talks to Diplomacy&Trade about the cultural, economic, political and social impact of being language relatives.

A 300-year-old building complex of the arch abbey manor of Pannonhalma in western Hungary will be expanded into a four-star hotel through a HUF 5 billion forint (EUR 15.9 mn) investment, the Hungarian news agency MTI reports.

In line with its tradition, the Hungarian European Business Council (HEBC) has prepared its 2017 recommendations, titled 'Smart Hungary'. The Report explores issues that can help accelerate the country’s economic and social development.

At their meeting in Brussels, the leaders of the Visegrád Four countries have decided to provide support for the implementation of the Project, led by the Italian government in cooperation with the Commission, aimed at protecting the borders in Libya.

Businessman László Baldauf, the founder of the CBA retail store chain in Hungary, has confirmed to the news agency 'Független Hírügynökség' that seven CBA stores (two of them in Budapest) would be taken over by the German retailer Lidl.

Wireless internet availability has been significantly improved in passenger areas of Liszt Ferenc International Airport. The new system promises better coverage and a stronger signal, offering a multiplication of capacity to passengers using Wi-Fi.

According to the European Commission (the quasi government of the EU), the European Union has approved that the parsley root grown in and around the southeastern Hungarian town of Makó can also be granted protected geographical indication.

Hungarian President János Áder was received at the Elysée Palace in Paris this Monday by French President Emmanuel Macron. The Hungarian head of state is in the French capital for the One Planet Summit climate conference.

Respect for the standards of rule of law is required for the proper spending of EU funds – this was the conclusion drawn by several speakers at an international conference organized by Transparency International Hungary (TI) in Budapest.

After London, BlackRock held its career-building and networking event in Frankfurt, Germany. The world's largest financial fund management company prmoted the operation of the Budapest office, available job opportunities and potential career paths.

Once again, people in Budapest have the opportunity to visit the Santa Claus Factory to donate gifts for poor children in Hungary and in Hungarian communities outside the border of Hungary. Besides giving gifts, you can also enjoy concerts and Christmas shows.

According to the trivago Rating Index (tRI), the southeastern town of Makó tops the list of Hungarian settlements as the town's hotels received the best reviews from travelers. Hungary was 13th in the ranking of European countries, MTI reports.

The Hungarian government is initiating the installation of long-term observers by the Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE) in Transcarpathia to monitor the situation of the Hungarian minority after a new education legislation there.

Traffic at Budapest Airport has broken another record, as the number of passengers exceeded 12 million by the end of November. Thanks to the dynamic growth, more than one million passengers used the terminals in November, for the first time ever.

A new promotional video showcases the Visegrád Cooperation in the spirit of the Hungarian Presidency’s motto: ‘V4 Together’. It was commissioned by the Public Foundation for the Research of Central and Eastern European History and Society.

Hungarian researchers work under extreme weather conditions on Ojos del Salado, the highest volcano on Earth, in the Atacama Desert in Northern Chile from next year on, the expedition will have its own research center on the spot to analyze samples.

In the framework of Hungary's V4 Presidency, the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affiars and Trade held a meeting in Budapest on Monday with the participation of the foreign ministers of the V4 countries plus Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia, Greece, Romania and Bulgaria.

The latest Economic Outlook published by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) says Hungary's recent strong economic performance is projected to continue into 2018, before softening somewhat in 2019.

Wizz Air, the largest low-cost airline in Central and Eastern Europe, announces that, following the acquisition of a number of take-off and landing slots from Monarch Airlines, it will increase its fleet at London Luton by two aircraft to a total of seven.

The strengthening of the Chinese economy presents great opportunities for the countries of Central Europe. That is according to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán speaking after the economic and trade forum of China and 16 Central and Eastern European countries.

Diplomatic Spouses of Budapest held their 7th Diplomatic Fair in the InterContinental Hotel in Budapest this November. The charity eventfeatured food and drinks from 20 countries as well as gift objects from around the world.

“Italy and Hungary have been sharing a deep friendship that even temporary ups and downs cannot jeopardize,” Italian Ambassador Massimo Rustico tells Diplomacy&Trade in a recent special focus on Hungarian-Italian relations.

Within a few months, the corporate employees of Heineken Hungária undertook to rate the accessibility of ten thousand local service providers like shops, coffes, bars and restaurants in Hungary to help the users of the Route4U accessibility application.

The Grand Ballroom of the Marriott Hotel was “on fire” recently. Not literally of course, but certainly the 200 or so guests that gathered to celebrate Guy Fawkes Day in Hungary and raise funds for local children’s charities were in a feverish state.

At the Fourth Swiss Business Day in Hungary, Swiss companies that boost Hungary’s economy await visitors with the topic of Innovation and Talent. The firms have responded about their relations to innovation in an online survey.

The Indian-based automotive supplier Samvardhana Motherson Peguform (SMP) has established a bumper manufacturing plant in Kecskemét, E Hungary, in an area of 96,000 square meters. The greenfield development is to create about 500 jobs.

The week between Novermber 20 and 26 will see a series of events orgnaized in Budapest in the framework of the ‘Week of the Italian cuisine’. The Hungarian public will have the opportunity to learn about Italian gastronomy - and even have a taste.

The most anticipated animation event in the Hungarian capital this fall, the 15th Anilogue International Animation Festival that illuminates the screens of two cinemas – Urania and Kino – will be held from November 29 to December 3 in Budapest.

19 robots help the staff working in GE Hungary’s Budapest shared service center. By automating certain elements of financial, accounting, procurement, logistics, IT, and HR processes, GE aims to improve the quality and efficiency of administrative processes.

Following the successful operation of its first ATM in Hungary with the possibility of Bitcoin transactions (in Budapest), the Hungarian firm Shinrai Ltd. put into operation another such machine in Mosonmagyaróvár, NW hungary, close to the Austrian and Slovak borders.

In September 2017 and in the period January-September 2017, the volume of industrial sector output grew by 5.4% and 5.2% year-on-year, respectively. Since January 2010, the sector’s output has been up by more than 35%.

A remote control tower control center opened in Budapest on Tuesday. In a few years from now, specialists will be able to direct air traffic not only from the tower at the airport in Ferihegy but also from the Igló street control room in the caípital.

Nestlé Hungary Ltd. has expanded its its production facility in Bük, W Hungary, with an investment cost of HUF 20 billion (appr. EUR 65 million), thus creating one of Europe's largest animal food production center. The company has 900 employees.

The two-week-long multinational military exercise 'Clever Ferret 2017' is drawing to a close. In this phase of the training, the multinational units made up of Italian, Hungarian and Slovenian troops are already carrying out coordinated tactical tasks.

Bodrogi Bau Ltd. saw the opening of its doors and windows and insulation material production plant in Szeged, SE Hungary this Thursday. Nearly HUF 500 million of the total cost of over HUF one billion was financed from EU funding.

Poland is a candidate for the organization of EXPO 2022 in ŁódĽ, the third most populous city of the country, on the theme of revitalization of cities - a global challenge and condition for further development of agglomerations around the world.

Edelmann Hungary Packaging Co. Ltd. is upgrading its fleet of machines. With the more than EUR 10 million project, the German company can not only increase its capacity, but can also supply higher quality and added-value products.

As a result of the largest food industry project in Hungary recently, the grain processing plant of KALL Ingredients has been completed in Tiszapüspöki, eastern Hungary. The plant will process GMO-free maize purchased from Hungarian producers.

The Infogroup Real Estate Development Group is building a EUR 11.5 million logistics center in the Tiszaújváros Industrial Park. The almost 17,000 sqm facility will be rented by the US-owned manufacturer of electronic products, Jabil Circuit Hungary.

The National Wine Treasury Program has been launched in Hungary with the help of funds -
close to HUF 1.5 billion (EUR 4.8 mn) - allocated by the government, starting a unique preservation process in the history of Hungarian viticulture.

Telecommunications service provider UPC Hungary saw its sales of digital services boosted in the third quarter of 2017. During this period, UPC Hungary surpassed the 2 million subscriptions milestone and delivered an impressive revenue growth of 10,2%.

International express delivery world market leader DHL Express has opened a new 13,000-sqm Center at the Budapest Airport Business Park joining DHL's other two divisions, a DHL Global Forwarding and DHL Freight, which moved in 2013.

Spinto Hungária Kft. is constructing an automotive tool factory in Miskolc. With the about EUR 19 million project, a unit manufacturing large tools will be established in Hungary, for the products of which there is huge demand throughout the region.

The Hungarian Investment Promotion Agency (HIPA) organized in Budapest the Hungarian Shared Services Gala, during which awards were given to top companies and managers of 2017 in three categories and the latest SSC market survey was published.

Anita Herczegh, the wife of the Hungarian President regularly organizes programs for the spouses of ambassadors accredited to Budapest.This week, they visited a photo exhibition in the Art Hall in the Hungarian capital.

The Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Program (ITEC) is a bilateral assistance program run by the Government of India. Held every year since 1964, ITEC Day has recently been celebrated at the Embassy of India in Budapest.

UniCredit Bank Hungary had a very successful year in 2016. As the Deputy CEO of the bank and Member of the Management Board, Marco Iannaccone explains, this profitable result has made it possible for the bank to extend its support activities to new areas.

The international real estate consultancy firm Cushman & Wakefield has chosen Budapestas the new venue for its Portfolio Services Center (PSC) department. The new investment, supported by the Hungarian government, is expected to create 250 new jobs.

A recent survey by the German-Hungarian Chamber of Industry and Commerce reveals that German companies are currently in excellent shape in the country. They are even more optimistic than the already very good results published in April.

Hungarian low-cost airline WizzAir has launched flights to a new destination from Budapest: Agadir in southern Morocco. The airliner operates this flight twice a week with Airbus A320 aircraft. The first flight was fully booked as the plane left the Hungarian capital.

Disaster management authorities were alerted 3,700 times over the week-end and Monday morning. A spokesman for the National Directorate General for Disaster Management says people were also injured as trees fell on two cars.

This year, India celebrates the 70th anniversary of its independence from the United Kingdom. On this occasion, the Ambassador of the Republic of India to Hungary, Rahul Chhabra gave an extensive interview to Diplomacy&Trade.

The National Bank of Hungary has published its latest competitiveness report in order to analyse, examine and evaluate Hungary’s competitiveness and to explore the possibilities of further progress with over a hundred indicators.

Hungarian citizens have a good perception of the European Union and this view shows a particularly positive trend, according to the ‘Parlemeter 2017’ survey that takes a close look at citizens’ views on EU membership and its benefits,

Japanese tyre manufacturer Bridgestone had its HUF 85 billion forint (EUR 274 million) capacity-expanding investment project officially inaugurated in Tatabánya, west of Budapest this Thursday. It is expected to create 500 new jobs.

Close to 34,000 people visited this year's World Press Photo exhibition in the Museum of Ethnography in Budapest. It is an outstanding number as the average attendance in the past years in Hungary was 20-25,000 people.

Celebrations of the 61st anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian revolution and uprising against the Stalinist style regime were attened by less people than usual due to the rain that was falling basically all day Sunday in Hungary.

The new plant of CSABAcast has been officially opened in Apc, E Hungary. It has been equipped with state-of-the-art technology and fleet of machines of the highest quality. Themanufacturing baseserves the expansion of the activities of the company.

World-leading global medical technology company, Becton Dickinson's (BD) new plant has been inaugurated in Tatabánya where the manufacturing of research reagents required for the production of medical products will be launched.

Ericsson and Magyar Telekom have held a demonstration of the first 5G New Radio at the Ericsson R&D centre in Budapest on Thursday. The first implementation of its kind in Hungary achieved download speeds of 22 gigabits per second (Gbps).

World renowned Italian movie theme composer Ennio Morricone received a Hungarian state recognition, the Middle Cross of the Hungarian Order of Merit in Budapest this Wednesday for popularizing Hungarian music.

Automotive Hungary, the 5th International Exhibition for Automotive Industry Suppliers
has opened at the HUNGEXPO Budapest Fair Center. Programs of the exhibition are built on the thematical points 'Business, Science, Career.”

According to end of summer figures by the Central Statistical Office, the volume of construction output in Hungary was 36.8% higher in August 2017 than the low base a year earlier. construction output grew by 9.8% in August compared to the previous month.

Knorr-Bremse Rail Systems, the German company manufacturing eailway brake and air systems had it new manufacturing hall in Budapest inaugurated this Tuesday. A training workshop was also presented at the company's premises in the Hungarian capital.

30 tons of food was transported through the Hungarian capital to those in need on World Food Day. The food items were provided by 19 companies for poor families. The truck convoy drove through downtown Budapest to call attention to World Food Day.

More visual experience and more surprises are needed at Hungarian festivals to keep up with the competition on international level. That was the view shared by the participants of the recent Festival Season Valuation Roundtable organized by HEINEKEN Hungária.

The British Minister of State for Europe and the Americas, Sir Alan Duncan is in Budapest this Tuesday. He has officially opened the new building of the Embassy of the United Kingdom and also held a lecture and a Q&A forum at the Corvinus University.

Presidents of the Visegrád Group (V4) countries (Andrzej Duda of Poland, Andrej Kiska of Slovakia, Milos Zeman of the Czech Republic and the host, János Áder of Hungary) hold a two-day meeting in Szekszárd, Central Hungary.

The first facility in the Páty Industrial Park has officially been inaugurated. The 23,000-sqm logistics centre was developed by Inpark and serves as a regional car parts distribution hub operated by logistics service provider Kühne+Nagel.

As a result of the development implemented from EUR 28 million by Révész-Nyírlog Ltd., a more than 52,000-square meter logistics center has been established, supplemented with a warehouse hall, an office building and accessory rooms.

Concerning its dispute with the Hungarian government, the Central European University has issued a statement, stressing that its continues its operations uninterrupted despite the new Hungarian education law dubbed as 'Lex CEU'.

The Foreign Ministers of the Visegrád Group, Western Balkans and Central-European countries held a meeting in Budapest's Várket Bazaar event center within the framework of the Hungarian Presidency of the Visegrád Group (V4).

The Hungarian Business Council for Sustainable Development (BCSDH) celebrates its ten-year anniversary. On this good occasion to look back, Diplomacy&Trade talked to the President of the
organization, Attila Chikán, Jr.

The Hong Kong Young Leaders Development Association visited Budapest to enhance the understanding of Hungary amongst youngsters from Hong Kong, and to foster friendship between Hong Kong and Hungary through people-to-people exchange.

German family venture Krones AG has announced the establishment of a plant that will manufacture pieces of food industry equipment in Debrecen, E Hungary, with an investment of close to HUF 15 billion, close to 40% of which is covered by the Hungarian government.

Siemens Ltd, the Hungarian subsidiary of Europe's largest industrial manufacturing company, has joined the working group of the National Supplier Program, the Hungarian Minister for National Economy Mihály Varga said at the signing of a letter of intent.

The British Chamber of Commerce in Hungary celebrated its 25th anniversary last year. Its Chairman Vazul Tóth tells Diplomacy& Trade regards it as a great achievement that the BCCH is among the most active bilateral chambers in Hungary.

In celebration of Hungary's 5th presidency of the Visegrád Group (made up of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia - V4), a family event, called V4 Sunday, was organized in the Várkert Bazaar event center in Budapest.

Former President of the Republic of Hungary had his bust unveiled in the Óbuda University park, which is in the neighborhood of the one-time residency of the late President. Árpád Göncz was the President of the country between 1990 and 2000.

168 years ago, on October 6, 1849, thirteen rebel generals of the Hungarian army were executed by the Austrian Empire in Arad, then part of the Kingdom of Hungary (now in Romania), after the Hungarian Revolution and war of independence (1848–1849).

General Electric aims to double the volume of the products and services bought from Central-Eastern European SMEs, including Hungarian enterprises. The firm has approximately 6.000 suppliers in the region and its procurement value exceeds USD 1.7 billion.

Hungarian President János Áder János is on a two-day official visit to Montenegro where he was given a reception ceremony with military saulute by his host, the President Filip Vujanovic in front of the presidential palace in Cetinje.

Over a year after the Brexit vote, British Ambassador Iain Lindsay believes relations between Hungary and the UK are stronger. The political relationship and the economic relations are stronger, trade and investment are growing” he tells Diplomacy&Trade.

The Hungarian subsidiary of the Swiss Maxon, Maxon Motor Hungary Kft. will extend - with a cash subsidy from the Hungarian government - its electromotor plant in Veszprém with an investment worth some HUF 4.2 billion, and the project will create 102 new jobs.

German company WESSLING, one of the leading consulting, analytical and testing companies engaged in quality, safety, environment and health, has opened a knowledge center, a leading regional R&D base of an international engineering innovation in Budapest.

The Business Council for Sustainable Development in Hungary (BCSDH) organizes a Jubilee Business Lunch at the launch of its yearly Action 2020 Hungary recommendations and the 10th Anniversary of BCSDH with a futurist as the keynote speaker.

Joining the repertoire of the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of India, an Indian Film Week is held between October 5 and 11, 2017 in the Puskin Cinema in downtown Budapest.

A Hungarian delegation headed by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is on an official visit to Vietnam. With several ministers in the delegation, PM Orbán was received by his Vietnamese counterpart, Nguyen Xuan Phuc as well as by President Tran Dai Quang.

The first two electric buses have been manufactured at the plant of the BYD Electric Bus and Truck Hungary Ltd. in the local industrial park in Komárom, west of Budapest. The Chinese company opened its Hungarian plant in April this year.

As of September 21, 98% of all tariffs between Hungary and Canada are eliminated as the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement – known as CETA – comes into effect through provisional application.

South African real estate investment firm NEPI Rockcastle announced that, on September 15, 2017, it acquired all the issued shares of Aréna Plaza shopping center in Budapest through its subsidiary, Arena Property Ltd. for EUR 275 million.

This year’s SZEMREVALÓ /SEHENSWERT/EYEFUL Film Festival will take place September 21-30. This event presents the very best new films from the German-language world, now for the sixth time, in the original language with subtitles or interpretation.

Hungarian President János Áder was one of the heads of state participating this Thursday and Friday at the meeting of the Arraiolos Group in La Valletta, He pointed out that the most effected solution to protecting the borders of the EU is the common stance.

German multinational engineering and electronics company Bosch, the world's largest supplier of automotive components is to establish a new regional center for which the foundation stone was laid in the industrial park in Hatvan, east of Budapest this Friday.

The Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hungary (Camera di Commercio Italiana per l'Ungheria – CCIU) held an Italian Business Day event in Debrecen, E Hungary with the participation of the Italian Ambassador to Hungary, Massimo Rustico.

Seven violinists, including two Hungarians, have passed to the September 14 final of the Bartók World Competition and Festival in Budapest held on the occasion of the 135th birth anniversary of the world famous Hungarian composer, Béla Bartók.

Coca Cola HBC has established Hungary's largest food industry warehouse in Dunaharaszti, south of Budapest with an investment of HUF two billion (appr. EUR 6.5 million). The 6,500-sqm warehouse can store 8,4 million liters of goods.

German-owned passenger transport company FlixBus has opened a Central Eastern European regional office at the Népliget Bus Station in Budapest in order to coordinate its Hungarian, Romanian and Bulgarian networks.

Croatia's President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic arrived in Hungary this Tuesday. She met with President János Áder and PM Viktor Orbán with the purpose of clarifying why the Hungarian government voted against Croatia's membership in OECD.

The 14th annual Jameson CineFest, opened with the screening of ‘Shortcuts’ aka ‘Cutting it Short’ (1981) in the northeastern Hungarian city of Miskolc with the director, Jiři Menzel and the leading actress, Magda Vásáryová as special guests.

Health ministers and high-level representatives of the 53 Member States of the WHO European Region as well as partner organizations and civil society take part in the 67th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe in Budapest until September 14.

Over 200 Hungarian and foreign exhibitors with thousands of different wines await visitors at the 26th Budapest Wine Festival in the Buda Castle until September 10. The guest of honor country at this year's event is Chile.

In his regular Friday morning appearance on state radio, Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán announced that "we must acknowledge the European Court of Justice’s ruling in the migrant quota lawsuit," in which the legality of the EU migrant quota system was upheld.

The Hungarian trucking company WABERER’S INTERNATIONAL Plc. has announced on the website of the Budapest Stock Eschange (BUX) that its series “A” dematerialised, registered ordinary shares are to be included in the BUX basket with a weight of 0.91%.

It was a hundred years ago that Sándor Korda - later to be known as Alexander Korda - and his associates pőened Hungary's first film studio (the 7th oldest in the world) at a location that is still a TV and film production facility in Budapest.

SPA Profiles Ltd. is constructing a new pressing plant in Székesfehérvár, SW of Budapest. The HUF 6.8 billion forints (EUR 22.2 million) investment by one of the world’s leading automotive industry suppliers is expected to create 120 new jobs.

Iberia, the Spanish national airline, has announced that, unlike in previous years, it will operate flights between Budapest and Madrid in the winter season from 2017, with three weekly flights on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

'On Body and Soul', a 2017 Hungarian drama film directed by Ildikó Enyedi has been chosen by a committee of experts as the Hungarian entry for the next Academy Awards. Earlier this year, the movie has already won the Golden Bear award in Berlin.

The village of Mád in Hungary's world-renowned Tokaj wine region in a unique place in the world in that 80% of the grapes grown in its terrtory is of the Furmint variety. This year's edition of the annual Furmint festival took place this past week-end.

This is the fifth year that Budapest Airport organized its hugely successful charity running race the Runway Run, an event unique in the whole of Europe. This past week-end, the airport operator closed runway No. 1 - or actually opened it for over a thousand runners.

The Hungarian oil and gas trust MOL celebrates the 80th anniversary of its first exploratory drilling that took place in Budafapuszta, Zala County in SW Hungary. In the rest of the year, MOL is to start drilling for oil and gas in eastern Hungary.

Foreign ministers of the Visegrád Four (V4) and Eastern Partnership countries meet in Budapest to discuss the Partnership’s future as well as preparations for the Eastern Partnership’s November summit as the central points.

The world’s only permanent exhibition of Robert Capa’s photographs will open in October in the Hungarian capital, Budapest, at the recently refurbished Capa Centre. The news was announced on Tuesday on the occasion of the day of Hungarian photography.

SMR, a global automotive supplier from India, starts two projects eastern Hungary. The one worth EUR 10 million covers a new manufacturing hall for rear-view mirrors, while a EUR 16 million development is to expand the bumper part manufacturing capacity.

As of next April, the Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair will start a new route between Budapest and Santander in northern Spain after an agreement with the government of the province of Cantabria, according to the daily El Diario Montañés.

The official Hungarian Gazette has published a government resolution according to which the cabinet spends an extra HUF 2.4 billion on the deployment of another 30,000 bank card acceptance points as promised earlier.

The website of Lonely Planet, the largest travel guide book publisher in the world, has picked five Budapest neighborhoods as recommedned for those visiting the Hungarian capital - all of them districts in the downtown area along the river Danube.

GKI’s economic sentiment index reached its historic peak in July. According to the empirical survey conducted by GKI with the support of the EU, the business confidence index fell slightly in August. However, consumer expectations increased a bit.

The Hungarian government is going to launch a survey of the language skills and language knowledge of young people in the country as part of the new strategy on the development of the efficiency of teaching foreign languages.

Addressing the autumn meeting of diplomatic mission leaders, Minister Péter Szijjártó asked those present to not allow themselves to be swayed from the standpoint according to which the security situation in Europe can in fact be improved and restored.

The number of deaths considerably and that of births slightly increased in Hungary, as a result of which natural decrease grew from 19,903 in the first half 2016 to 25,192 persons in the first six months of 2017, which meant an increase of 27%.

Russian president Vladimir Putin paid a visit to the Hungarian capital this Monday - for the second time this year. At the World Judo Championships, where he is the honorary president of the world federation, he met with Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán.

The last Friday night of August is traditionally the day of the night of zoos, During this night, this time that of August 25, twelve animal parks aceoss the country welcomed visitors with extended opening hours and unique programs.

Hungarian-owned Magnus Aircraft Cls. is building an aeroplane manufacturing plant in Pécs, southern Hungary. The Hungarian government is contributing approximately 40% of the costs, (HUF two billion) in non-returnable funding.

The Hungarian Univer Product Co. Ltd. has opened Central Europe’s largest tomato processing plant in Kecskemét, southeast of Budapest. The Hungarian government contributed almost half of the investment costs of the project.

The British and Hungarian air forces have held joint exercises over western and northeastern Hungary. The exercises that ended this Thursday were directed from the Szentgyörgyi Dezső Hungarian Air Force Base in Kecskemét, SE of Budapest.

The National Bank of Hungary will continue its program of upgrading Hungarian forint banknotes . As part of the program. The Bank says it will issue into circulation an upgraded 1,000-forint note with new design elements and new security features.

The latest development by the Danish pharmaceutical company Xellia Pharmaceuticals has been completed at its Kőbánya site in Budapest. The laboratory constructed as part of a development of EUR 11 million will operate as a testing centre for active ingredients.

Hungarian police, who will be taking part in border control operations, have set off for Serbia and Macedonia, to help local authorities reinforce border security along the Macedonian-Greek and Serbian-Bulgarian borders.

Japan's Prince Akishino and his eldest daughter, Princess Mako, are on a private trip to Hungary. On Sunday, they visited a pig farm in Bugac, southeast of Budapest, while earlier, they were welcomed at the Museum of Ethnography in the Hungarian capital.

Mártrai Erőmű, the second largest power plant in Hungary, will implement the country's largest solar farm with a capacity of 3×20 MegaWatts, according to the Hungarian political daily Népszava. Two of the three units will be completed in 2018.

There is a Hungarian national among those injured in the Barcelona attack: a Hungarian woman is lightly injured, but she has already been released from hospital, Levente Magyar, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said.

An international jury of more than 200 executives worldwide awarded NNG with three International Business Awards for one of its development solutions, as well as its recent marketing and internal communication campaigns.

Fourteen racehorses bred in Hungary were flown to China last week, on board Cargolux’s Boeing 747. The Friesian and Shagya Arabian horses, trained specifically for combined driving, took off from Budapest Airport in special freight containers.

One of Europe's biggest cultural – mainly music and arts – festivals, the Sziget Festival (this time, the 25th, jubilee edition), ended this Tuesday, having had a total number of 452.000 visitors attending the seven-day event from over a hundred countries.

As part of the Spanish Focus of Diplomacy&Trade, the Director of the Institute in Budapest, Iñaki Abad Leguina talks about the role of the institute in the Hungarian capital in disseminating Spanish culéture and in teaching the Spanish language.

Hungarian fans of Elvis Presley held a candle-lit commemoration event in Budapest's Elvis Presley Park on the 40th anniversary of the death of the legendary American singer. One of the performers was the Hungarian Elvis Tribute Band.

As of May 4, American Airline, the world's largest airliner, will have scheduled daily flights between the Hungarian capital and the city of Philadelphia on the east coast of the United States, according to a communiqué by Budapest Airport and the US airliner.

The 16th Seven Meadows’ Land Festival, which is the largest cultural event in the Őrség region in SW Hungary, icontinues until Sunday, August 20. It includes plenty of concerts and performances by well-known Hungarian musicians.

The Ambassador of India, Rahul Chhabra invited guests to his residence in the Buda Hills for the celebration of the 70th Anniversary of India’s Independence. The flag hoisting ceremony was followed by greetings and the reading of the President’s message.

The northeastern Hungarian region involving the city of Debrecen, the town of Hajdúszoboszló, the Hortonágy National Park area and the Lake Tisza reservoir have been given HUF billions for development in a program lasting until 2030.

The 'Palace of the Soul' in the Buda Hills in Budapest presented a day of Indian atmosphere this past Sunday with Eastern style dances, cooking on open fire, traditional music instruments, fire ceremony and colorful stage performances.

The representatives from the embassies of eighteen countries and that of the Budapest mission of the European Commission were present at the event organized for them on the occasion of the quarter-of-a-century jubilee of the Sziget Festival.

Lending is gaining more and more importance as the pace of economic growth is accelerating, Minister for National Economy Mihály Varga said at the opening of a Hungarian Development Bank (MFB) info point at an OTP Bank branch in the third district of Budapest.

The size of Hungarian state administatration is contantly growing despite earlier promises to cut it. While the Orbán government spent 7% of all expenses for the wages of government employees in 2010, this figure in 2018 is expected to be 12%.

According to information published at the website of the Budapest Stock Exchange, in the framework of the developments tby Graphisoft Park, there will be 20,000 m2 office space and underground parking for 750 cars constructed by 2018.

The new direct bus link between downtown Budapest and the Liszt Ferenc Airport of the Hungarian capital is a real 'gold mine' for the Budapest Transport Center (BKK) commissioning the service, the Hungarian news website 444.hu reports.

'Dotted Annie', a cake without added sugar by Zazzi Confectionery has won Hungary's 2017 Sugar Free Cake Competition announced annually by the One Drop Drop Foundation together with the Association of Hungarian Confectionery Manufacturers.

One of Europe's biggest cultural - mainly music - festivals, the Sziget Festival on Óbuda Island (hence the name) on the River Danube has opened its gates. Programs at the anniversary, 25th Sziget Festival start this Wednesday.

In June 2017, the number of nights spent by international tourists in Hungary increased by 16% and that of nights spent by domestic tourists by 8.8% compared to the level a year earlier, Hungary’s Central Statistical Office (KSH) has reported.

In July, the GKI real estate indices for Budapest and Hungary stood at 1 and 0 points respectively. Both figures dropped slightly by one point, compared to the previous survey. Both indices went up 2 points, compared to the survey made one year earlier.

The National Bank of Hungary has sold heritage protected Eiffel Palace, a downtown office building in the vicinity of the Nyugati railway station in the Hungarian capital, to the Luxembourg-based Corpus Sireo Real Estate investment fund for EUR 53.8 million.

On the occasion that Spain and Hungary mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain to Hungary, José Ángel López Jorrin talks to the latest issue of Diplomacy&Trade.

In the month of July 2017 the state budget posted a surplus of HUF 94.4bn, thanks mainly to higher-than-expected tax revenues, according to a statement about fiscal data by the Hungarian Ministry of National Economy.

Mastercard has compiled a list of 'Europe's hidden treasures' with Balaton Uplands, the area along the northern shore of Lake Balaton, Central Europe’s largest freshwater lake, in Western Hungary, making it to the list in position 15.

The Serbian unit of the largest Hungarian Bank OTP has bought the Serbian Vojvodjanska Banka from the National Bank of Greece for EUR 125 million. The deal also includes other Serbian units of the National Bank of Greece.

The Hungarian energy services firm ALTEO could launch new projects in a total value of close to HUF ten billion (some EUR 32 million): three power plants utilizing a total of 18.1 MW of solar power, and a 2 MW wind power plant.

The Hungarian Meteorological Service (OMSZ) has warned that daytime highs could be around (or above) 40 degrees Celsius for the rest of the week, especially on Friday. Accordingly, a heat alert has been declared for the entire country until August 4.

As of August 1, Matthew Prickard took over as the General Manager of Syngenta Hungary, replacing Tibor Czigány who moves on to work in Syngenta's African division. Matthew Prickard arrived to Hungary from the firm's Scandinavian division.

The National Bank of Hungary (MNB) has warned that as of this Tuesday, only the new 2,000 and 5,000 forint banknotes will be accepted in stores. On July 31, the central bank has withdrawn from circulation old notes that had been issued before 2016.

Heineken, the world’s second-largest brewery company, has published its results for the first half of 2017 and the numbers are quite good. Strong sales in Europe were the main reason including a double-digit growth in Hungary.

GKI's economic sentiment index and the business confidence index have never been as high as now so far during its more than twenty years of history. The empirical survey was conducted by GKI with the support of the EU.

According to newly published figures by the Hungarian Central statistical Office, industrial producer prices as a whole were 1.5% higher in June 2017 than in the same period of the previous year. Domestic output prices increased by 3.2% on average.

Grupo Iberostar, one of the most important Spanish companies in the world, celebrated 60 years of history. Six decades working with its customers and employees on a journey has positioned it at the forefront of the industry with hotels in 16 countries.

In 2016, the price of apartments for sale increased by 13% year on year, and the rise in new home prices also exceeded 10% in Hungary. During the first quarter of 2017, the price increase continued in the real estate market.

German-owned Hübner Ltd. will expand its vehicle industry production facility in Nyíregyháza, NE Hungary with an investment of HUF 3.4 billion (some EUR 11 million), quarter of which is provided as subsidy by the Hungarian government.

German air carrier Lufthansa will modify its timetable and increase its number of flights between Budapest and Frankfurt. Starting from 11 December 2017, it will fly on this route five times a day and will also have an adjusted timetable.

“It is the Government’s decided goal to reinforce the Hungarian Defence Force, which guarantees Hungary’s security”, the Minister of Defence István Simicskó said at an event to mark the major refurbishment of the army’s fleet of Mi-17 transport helicopters.

Hungary is the latest country to enter the Chinese onshore capital markets, raising Rmb 1 billion in a three-year panda bond, the Financial Times reports.Thus, ut is the first country to have issued both offshore and onshore renminbi-denominated debt.

According to a report by the Hungarian Ministry for National Economy, the volume of retail sales grew dynamically, by 6% year-on-year, in the month of May 2017. Thus, the sector has been expanding for 47 months in a row.

Özyer Group has announced that it signed an agreement with Marriott International to launch the acclaimed Luxury Collection brand in Hungary with Matild Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel expected to open in Budapest in early 2019.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is taking part in a financial restructuring of Budapest Airport Co. Ltd. with the aim to attract greater international investment and improve the airport’s operational performance.

Romanian telecom operator Digi Communications is to buy Invitel Telecommunications Co. Ltd., one of the key operators on Hungary’s telecom market, for EUR 140 million. The transaction will be carried out through Digi’s Hungarian subsidiary.

The market for business bank cards in Hungary has grown steadily over the last two years, according to statistical figures published by the National Bank of Hungary. It is while the total market has virtually stagnated according to the number of units.

The latest sustainability report by HEINEKEN Hungária says the company has recycled 98% of the generated waste and covers 22% of its energy consumption from renewable sources and has reduced its specific water consumption by 13.8% since 2008.

The French automotive supplier specializing in metal foundry Sicta is on a roll implementing an about EUR 11 million project in Felsőzsolca, NE Hungary. The expansion, subsidized by the Hungarian government with an undisclosed amount, is to create 115 new jobs.

Half a year after the announcement of its 2030 strategy, Hungary's MOL Group has signed license agreements signed with Evonik and thyssenkrupp that will enable MOL to produce propylene oxide, a key component for the production of polyether polyols.

Italian actor Franco Nero has a very impressive list of movies (over 200) to his belt. Coming up from time to time in that list is the name ‘Django’. He has talked to Diplomacy&Trade in an exclusive interview at a recent visit to Budapest.

In order to spread modern electronic payment methods, the government has decided to support the deployment of another 30,000 bank card acceptance points, State Secretary in the Ministry of National Development Ágnes Hornung has announced.

The Hungarian pharmaceutical company Gedeon Richter Plc. has announced that the European Commission has granted marketing authorization to Reagila (cariprazine) a novel antipsychotic for the treatment of schizophrenia in adult patients.

Due a bomb threat, police examine all international trains in Hungary on Wednesday - the National Police Force said on its website. An unknown man made a phone call announcing that a bomb was placed on international trains on the Hungarian rail network.

Following talks with the premiers of the V4 countries in Budapest on Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that cooperation with Israel in the fight against terrorism and in innovation is in the interest of Europe and the Visegrád countries.

The Business Council for Sustainable Development in Hungary (BCSDH) s establishing a ‘For a Sustainable Future’ prize with the purpose of recognizing and disseminating to a wide audience the activities of leaders and companies in the field of sustainability.

The Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace in Budapest has been chosen as the Top European City Hotel by the tourism size travelandleaisure.com. It finished ahead of two hotels in the Bristsih capital, London: Hotel 41 and the Milestone Hotel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanjahu has arrived to Budapest for a four-day official visit during which he is scheduled to meet with his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orbán, Hungarian Presdient János Áder and other officials.

More than 5,000 local government employees took part in the twp-hour warning strike organized by the Trade Union of Hungarian Civil Servants and Public Employees (MKKSZ) Monday morning in order to accentuate demands of wage increase.

General Electric Hungary has joined the Hungarian government's supplier program that is aimed at increasing the share of Hungarian companies taking part in the development and production of high value added products and services.

Lego Manufacturing Kft., the Hungarian subsidiary of the Danish LEGO group increased its net sales by 11% and its profits by 13% last year, the company told the Hungarian news agency MTI. In 2016, the Group closed its best year in its 85-year history.

27-year-old Hungarian researcher Gergely Raccuja, living in Britain since 2011, has won the most prestigious British economics prize, the Wolfson Economics Prize, which the second largest recognition in economics in the world after the Nobel Prize,

The 17th FINA World Acquatics Championships that takes place in Budapest in the next two weeks was declared open Friday night by Hungarian President János Áder. The opening ceremony took place on a stage built on the river Danube.

Balogh Tészta Co. Ltd, one of the biggest pasta makers in Hungary, inaugurated its new plant in Tiszakécske in the presence of PM Viktor Orbán. The new plant, built with EU support, has the initial output capacity of 2,250 kilograms per hour.

License plates for diplomats in Hungary have changed. What used to be a format of the letters DT plus four numbers is now of the letters CD plus six numbers. The first three numbers indicate the country and the second three numbers the status of the user of the car.

The Hungarian Government has acquired and repatriated the final seven pieces of the 'Seuso-treasure', a unique, priceless, ancient Roman silver treasure. The announcement was made in the Hunting Room of Hungarian Parliament in Budapest.

In May 2017 and in the initial five months of 2017, the industrial sector posted output growth of 8.8% and 5.7%, respectively, compared to the corresponding period of the previous year. Thus, Hungarian data have beaten corresponding EU averages.

A special livestock shipment set out from Budapest Airport this Wednesday: Hungarian breeding calves were flown to Qatar for further breeding. The special charter-charter flight was completed by a Boeing B-777F aircraft from Qatar Airways Cargo.

“There are positive relations between Malta and Hungary, and we intend to progress these relations through maintaining an open dialogue between the nations," the Prime Minister of the Mediterranean island country, Joseph Muscat tells Diplomacy&Trade.

A photo exhibition opened at the 25th anniversary of the Sziget Festival at the Robert Capa Contemporary Photography Center in Budapest this Tuesday. The exhibition "Sziget 25 - Festival History in Photos" is open until August 31.

Fornetti has opened its FFB (Fornetti Food and Beverage) exhibition bakery at rhe Octogon in Budapest. The new store has a self-service system and will be an important part of international expansion in the future, the daily Világgazdaság writes.

Budapest hosted the first meeting of foreign ministers of the new V4 Hungarian presidency this Monday. The meeting of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia was joined by the representatives of Austria, Slovenia and Croatia.

LOT Polish Airlines has announced to create a direct air link between Budapest and the United States as of next May. Flights four times a week to New York City JFK and twice a week to Chicago O'Hare airports will commence in May 2018.

Hungary's trade surplus was EUR 913 million in May this year, up 170 million euros from the same month a year earlier. That is according to the latest figures published by the Central Statistical Office and quoted by the Hungarian news agency MTI.

Heads of state from across Central Europe convened in the Polish capital, Warsaw to address how to drive forward regional infrastructure projects.The Three Seas Summitinvolves nations situated between the Baltic, Adriatic and Black Seas.

Trading of Waberer's shares were launched at the Budapest Stock Exchange with a ceremonial ring of the bell this Thursday morning. The ceremony was attended by the representatives of Waberer's, of the Stock Exchange and other officials.

36 embassies and the British Council in the Hungarian capital have issued a joint statement in support of the Budapest Pride march, rallying behind "LGBTQ communities in Hungary and their right to express themselves peacefully and lawfully."

Through an energy renovation project of close to HUF 130 million (appr. EUR 420,000), the Margit Hospital in Budapest was fitted with solar panels. As a result, substantial part of the energy need of the institution will be received from renewable source.

“Austrians and Hungarians living in this region have had a close relationship and shared good and bad times for centuries the Ambassador of Austria to Hungary, Elisabeth Ellison-Kramer tells the recent Austrian Focus of Diplomacy&Trade.

On the oocasion of Hungary's Presidency of the V4 Group, the prime ministers of the four countries (Beata Szydlo of Poland, Robert Fico of Slovakia, Viktor Orbán of Hungary and Bohuslav Sobotka of the Czech Republic) held a meeting in Budapest this Tuesday.

Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Hungary, David J. Kostelancik has welcomed fellow diplomats and hundreds of other guests at the Official Independence Day Celebration in this country at the Ambassador's residence in the Buda Hills.

TAP Portuguese airlines has relaunched its air connection (seven times over six days a week) between the Poruguese and Hungarian capitals. It takes 3.5 hours for the airline's Airbus A319 aircraft to fly the 2,478 kilometers between the two cities.

A multimedia fountain and Budapest's first 'light garden' were inaugurated on Margaret Isalnd on the river Danube this Friday. The municipal council voted earlier this month to enhance the light and water show elements of the musical fountain.

The Polish duo of Anna Maria Staskiewicz - Bartosz Koziak playing in the Budapest Music Center on Thursday evening at a concert held on the occasion of Hungary taking over the presidency of the Visegrád Four (V4) Group from Poland.

A monument commemorating the cooperation of Poland's Henryk Slawik and József Antall Sr, the father of the late Hungarian premier József Antall, who cooperated protecting Polish refugees in Hungary in World War II, has been unveiled in Budapest.

The open-air museum Aeropark, expanded and relocated within the territorry of Budapest Airport, has re-opened to the public. It presents a unique collection of aeroplanes from the history of Hungarian civilian aviation.

The Embassy of India organized the 2nd edition of ‘Ganga-Danube: Cultural Festival of India’ and 3rd International Day of Yoga in 15 cities and towns in Hungary this past week-end. All programs were open to the public, free of charge.

The 3rd Global Forum on Productivity organized by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development fostering international co-operation between public bodies and promoting productivity-enhancing policies has opened in Budapest.

German aviation industry supplier Diehl Aircabin is expanding its existing capacities in Nyírbátor, NE Hungary with an investment of EUR 120 million (appr. HUF 37 billion). the Hungarian government is providing HUF 1.38 billion in funding.

A second-degree heat alert has been issued for Hungary by Deputy State Secretary Tamás Szentes, who also acts as Chief Medical Officer.The waring is effective to midnight next Monday based on a forecast by the National Meteorological Service.

Siemens expanding its gas and steam turbine blade plant at its Power and Gas plant facility in Budapest with an investment of EUR 32.5 million (some HUF 10 billion). The expansion is planned to create 150 new jobs for technicians.

Hungary’s online retail trade closed an excellent year in 2016. According to a report by eNET, Hungarian webshops generated HUF 427 billion (about EUR 1.39 billion) in turnover, more than 5% of the total national retail trade volume.

The government’s great reform brought about a system that stripped students of the joy of learning and stripped teachers of the joy of teaching. The regime is consciously throwing into poverty an entire new generation. Our patience has run dry. We are here, so as to declare together, that enough is enough. We won’t stand idly by.

This Monday, following a meeting between the prime ministers of the Visegrád (V4) Group and those of the BeNeLux countries in the Polish capital, Warsaw, Poland officially handed over the presidency of the V4 group to Hungary.

'Threats and Challenges of Hybrid Warfare for European Security' was the title of a panel discussion at the National University of Public Service in Budapest this Thursday, opened by the American Chargé d’Affaires and the Ukrainian Ambassador.

General Electric is on its way to transform from a traditional industrial company (manufacturing machines and equipment) to a digital industrial company. Its Veresegyház factory enhances its production efficiency using its own digital technologies.

This Tuesday, the Hungarian governing party Fidesz and its smalll satellite partner KDNP passed passed a law requiring civil groups receiving foreign donations above a certain threshold to register as organisations funded from abroad.

General Electric (GE) has confirmed that it has started talks on the sale of its lighting branch. According to the company, the sale will affect most of the lighting division's plants in Hungary and about half of the local workers.

On the occasion of Canada marking the 150th anniversary of its Confederation, the Ambassador of the North American country to Hungary, Isabelle Poupart gave a extensive interview to the May issue of Diplomacy&Trade.

Hungary’s leading plastic film manufacturing base, Material-Plastik, a family-owned company, begins a project worth EUR 10 million, a new 6,000-square-meter factory hall is established and the existing fleet of machinery is also developed.

“Canada is seriously concerned by amendments that stand to endanger academic freedom in Hungary and the operations of the Central European University [CEU]," according to a statement by Canada's ambassador to Hungary, Isabelle Poupart.

India’s largest IT company, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is expanding its capacities in Budapest's 11th districvt by opening a new service center with 500 new employees and five thousand square meters of new office space.

The European Commission (EC) is to examine whether the recently enacted amendment to the Hungarian higher education law complies with the fundamental values of the European Union. The EC will also look into policies directed against the EU.

Apollo Tyres Chairman Onkar S Kanwar and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán inaugurated Apollo Tyres' 6th global tire manufacturing unit in Gyöngyöshalász, east of Budapest, which is the first greenfield investment of the company outside of India.

The American automotive parts producer Dana Incorporated broke ground on its new European gear manufacturing facility in Győr, NW Hungary to support new business in the region. Production is planned to start in 2018.

The American multinational technology company IBM has announced the opening of an IBM Budapest Lab dedicated to developing new technologies for IBM Cloud Video to support the increasing demand for streaming video technology.

Four catering places in Budapest will break with the tradition of plastic cups and start offering beer in biodegradable, plant-based cups. With the spreading of environment-friendly Polylactic Acid (PLA) cups, the carbon footprint of companies may be reduced.

In its WittyLeaks series, Diplomacy&Trade gives the opportunity to the leaders of diplomatic missions to share their personal experinces gathered while serving in Hungary. This time, here are the thoughts of the Mongolian ambassador, Zeneemyadar Batbayar.

The Hungarian movie 'On body and soul' has been shortlisted to be among the top five productions nominated for Academy Award in the best Foreign Language Film category. This is the tenth Academy Award nomination for Hungary in this category.

Great talents from all over the world have gathered in the Hungarian capital for an exciting and inspiring competition at the 12th Budapest Circus Festival. It is a festive year of the 250th anniversary of the birth of the modern circus art in Europe.

The Japanese Ambassador to Hungary, Kuni Sato handed over Japan's state award, the Order of Gold and Silver Rays of the Rising Sun to Kossuth Prize winner Hungarian conductor Dénes Szabó in the Kodály Zoltán Primary School in Nyíregyháza.

It was forty years ago, in January 1978, that the United States returned to Hungary the alleged crown of Hungary's first king Stephen I (St. Stephen). On this occasion, a conference was organized at the Pázmány Péter University in Budapest.

The Hungarian short film 'Long way home' has received the 'Best Picture' title at the latest Los Angeles Film Awards. Directed Sándor Gál, the production was also named as the 'Best narrative short' film at the competition.

The event 'Advent Festivity at the Basilica' in Budapest finished 4th among the Christmas fairs of Europe at the continent-wide public voting organized by the Brussels-based travel portal 'European Best Destinations'.

During the recent Italian week in Budapest, the movie ‘Finché c'è prosecco c'è speranza’ (As long as there is prosecco, there is hope), which debuted at Festival Venezia 2017, was screened for the first time in Hungary and followed by a tasting of the famous wine.

To further strenghten the bonds of bilateral cultural relations between India and Hungary, Embassy of India is organizing the cultural festival 2nd Ganges-Danube: Cultural Festival of India on June 24 and 25, 2017 in fourteen cities of Hungary.

Hungary ranks above the average in work-life balance and education and skills in OECD's Better Life Index but below average in social connections, civic engagement, environmental quality, income and wealth, housing and many other issues.

At the invitation of Anita Herczegh, the wife of Hungarian President János Áder, a group of members of the Diplomatic Spouses Budapest (DSB), took part in a journey to the western Hungarian towns of Tapolca and Keszthely.

CEU President Michael Ignatieff has announced that the university will continue in Budapest in the 2017-2018 academic year. The announcement comes as the future of CEU is uncertain due to legislation put through parliament by the Hungarian government.

The European Union's ELI-ALPS laser research center was inaugurated in Szeged, SE Hungary. The center's budget was HUF 70 billion (EUR 22.6 million), from which 85% was provided by the European Union’s Regional Development Fund.

The President of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, László Lovász, has been re-elected for another three-year term at the 188th assembly of the organization. The Academy expressed support for the Central European University.

Hungary's five-time Olympic gold medallist Agnes Keleti received the Israel Prize for Sport and Physical Culture, the state’s highest honor, on May 2 in Jerusalem. The 96-year-old Olympic legend is considered as the founder of gymnastics in Israel.

Zoltán Keszy-Harmath and his wife, Ágnes set out from Hungary on May 1 in their Hungarian manufactured Apollo Fox small light aircraft with the aim of becoming the first married couple who circumnavigate the Earth on airplane.

The number of tourists coming to Hungary has been growing in the past decades, due to affordable accommodation possibilities, low-cost flights, and the many tourist attractions. Budapest remains the leading destination.

The 2016 BalatonBor (BalatonWine) show in Budapest went far beyond the wines and the usual tasting, it emphasized the importance of regional marketing. The food fitting the vintages were made by the staff of Costes Downtown restaurant.

It is for the 13th year that a national series of tennis tournaments for businesspeople takes place in Hungary. The Manager Open series starts in the northwestern city of Győr. It will be followed by eight more regional events and the final in Budapest.

Thousands of people participated in the 'March of the Living', commemorating the victims of the Holocaust in Budapest this Sunday afternoon, remembering the 550,000 Hungarian Jews who died during the Holocaust.

The Hungarian governing parties have passed an amendment to the law on higher education, a legislation that is widely considered to target one institution in particular, the Central European University (CEU) in Budapest.

The Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Budapest, David Kostelancik has issued a statement, saying that his country is very concerned about the legislation pthat would severely impact the operations of the Central European University in Budapest.

This year’s Ignaz Lieben Award of the Austrian Academy of Sciences has been given to Hungarian physicist Illés Farkas, a researcher from the Statistical and Biological Physics Group of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in Budapest.

The reservoir in Budapest's 10th disctrict was opened to the public this Wednesday as March 22 is World Water Day (as declared by the United Nations in 1993). This reservoir is an important source of drinking water people in the Hungarian capital.

In the Diplomacy&Trade series WittyLeaks, whihc presents the private expoeriences of ambassadors accredited to Budapest, the Portuguese ambassador's recent article forcused on diverse connections between Portugal and Hungary.

In order to commemorate the 200th birth anniversary of Hungarian poet János Arany (born March 2, 1817), the National Bank of Hungary issued gold and silver medallions. The presentation too place in the Sándor Palace in the Buda Castle.

The Hungarian production 'Mindenki' (literal translation: 'Everyone') has won the Academy Award in the Best Short Film Live Action category. The recognition comes after last year's success of the 'Son of Saul' in the Best Foreign Language Film category.

The Hungarian government suggests that the Budapest City Council and the Hungarian Olympic Committee withdraw from the bid to host the 2024 Summer Games. Over quarter of a million signatures were collected to force a referendum on the issue.

The Hungarian Cricket Association is running a friendly (softball) tournament on March 4 in Budapest to raise funds for Csodalámpa Alapítvány, a foundation that has been operating for more than 14 years, fulfilling the dreams of over 3,000 seriously ill children so far.

Swedish sports restaurant chain O'Learys launches is a program to help provide school meals to vulnerable children in Ethiopia and DR Congo. The first special hamburger is named after the legendary Hungarian footballer Ferenc Puskás.

The night watchman trapped on board of a ferry swept away some 500 meters to the middle of the Tisza river by ice-floes at the village of Tiszacsege, eastern Hungary, was airlifted to safety this Monday by a military helicopter.

The National Federation of Hungarian Journalists (MÚOSZ) has announced the winners of its 35th annual photo contest in Budapest. The international jury had to select the best of 6,259 entries submitted by 234 photographers.

16-year-old Hungarian Zsombor Piros came from a set down to capture his first junior Grand Slam title, fighting from a set down to defeat Israeli Yshai Oliel 4-6 6-4 6-3 in the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne.

The southern Hungarian city of Pécs has been chosen as one of the 16 recepients of the UNESCO Learning City Award 2017 and thus to become the first Hungarian city to receive this recognition, the international organization has announced.

The departing US Ambassador to Hungary, Colleen Bell received the Middle Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary awarded to her by President János Áder for her work in the interest of developing bilateral relations.

Hungary's Sándor Shaolin Liu won the 1,000-meter event at the European Short Track Championship in Torino, Italy. He also finished second at the 3,000-meter superfinal while other members of the Hungarian team won another five silver medals.

Three-time Rio Olympics champion swimmer Katinka Hosszú and saber fencer Áron Szilágyi, also an Olympic champion in Rio de Janeiro last year have been elected Hungary’s 'Athletes of the Year 2016' by the country’s sports journalists.

According to an internet survey conducted by the Hungarian Ornithological and Nature Conservation Society (MME), the Bird of the Year in Hungary in 2017 is the European Goldfinch (scientific name: Carduelis carduelis).

Liberty Global Plc has announced a multi-year partnership with Netflix Inc. which will lead to Netflix’s content being made available to Liberty Global video customers across more than 30 countries around the world – including those of UPC Hungary.

About 1 million 267 thousand students began a new school year in Hungary this Thursday. State secxretary in charge of education, László Palkovics said teachers' wages increase but trade unions believe overall conditions in education are not satisfactory.

An exhibition of paitings and drawings by Hungarian musicians has opened in the Rockmúzeum in Budapest. The creators of these pieces of art are rock musicians who decided to try and express their talent in other forms or art.